Real Madrid have reportedly dropped their interest in Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe following their failed attempts to sign him in the summer.
The World Cup winner was initially due to become a free agent at the end of the 2021-22 season and was widely expected to join Carlo Ancelotti's Spanish and European champions.
However, less than a month before his PSG contract was due to expire, Mbappe agreed to a new three-year deal with the Ligue 1 champions, worth a reported £1m per week.
Mbappe's new contract led to a bitter war of words between French and Spanish football chiefs, as Florentino Perez was personally informed by Mbappe that he would not be moving to the Bernabeu.
Los Blancos also lost out to Manchester City in the race for Erling Braut Haaland, with Karim Benzema still holding the fort at the tip of Ancelotti's attack for the time being.
© Reuters
While Mbappe is contracted to Les Parisiens for another three seasons, the 23-year-old can supposedly leave for free at the end of the 2023-24 campaign due to a clause in his contract.
However, Marca claims that Real Madrid have closed the door on any future move for Mbappe due to the player's financial demands, which Los Blancos would not be willing to bow to.
The report adds that Real Madrid are also not prepared to fork out a mammoth signing-on fee for Mbappe, and the La Liga champions have also walked away from any future deal for Haaland.
If either Mbappe or Haaland become available for an affordable price, Real Madrid will allegedly sound out a possible deal, but Ancelotti's side are no longer interested in the duo.
After amassing 39 goals and 26 assists in 46 appearances for PSG in all competitions last season, Mbappe has started the 2022-23 season in bright form with 10 goals in nine matches.
© Reuters
In total, the former Monaco starlet has registered 181 goals and 88 assists in 226 games for the French champions since initially arriving on loan in the summer of 2017.
Mbappe has won four Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France crowns, two Coupe de la Ligues and three Trophee des Champions honours in that time, as well as scooping four consecutive Ligue 1 Golden Boots.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid talisman Benzema struck three goals in his first four La Liga games of the new campaign, but the 34-year-old has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a muscular injury sustained against Celtic in the Champions League.
In Benzema's absence, Rodrygo was given the nod to lead the line in Sunday's Madrid derby with Atletico Madrid and volleyed home the opening goal after 16 minutes in that 2-1 win.
Victory over Diego Simeone's side saw Real Madrid extend their winning run at the start of the 2022-23 season to nine matches, their best start to a campaign in 54 years.
Ben Knapton
